Color as a multimodal communication device on forums

[Memory]

Hey there,

as of late I have been thinking about how I use

color

on this forum as of late and how this is actually quite interesting especially as a linguist who specializes in analyzing communication.

For those who don't know, a multimodal medium is one that uses more than "just" words to communicate information. Like natural speech and a conversation in real life for example, which significantly relies on facial expressions and gestures. You can also convey additional meaning through tone, volume, speed, pauses and much more.

In writing, usually the written word is the only modus that we can use. But on this forum, I have noticed that nearly all of us are using an abundance of stylistic devices bestowed upon us by the forum software: fonts, colors, sizes and visual effects.

Do you think these styles you use convey meaning, meaning that would not be there if it was absent? I think so, and it would be super interesting to analyze that! Like, in this post, I have used color a plethora of times to distinguish strands of thought, or to emphasize certain aspects and phrases. (Of course, I am overdoing it on purpose here.) I also style all of my posts in a global font I set once, one that is supposed to represent my writing style.

Sometimes I style my entire post like a rainbow, beginning at red and ending with purple; just because I feel it makes my argument "softer" in a way.

What do you think? Is visual styling an important aspect of communicating online?

[Necrosia]

I think visuals are important even if it just to make something pleasing to the eyes, I don't think they convey any meaning tho, at least not for me personally. I don’t read something with a different meaning only because it's written in purple or using comics sans, for example.

On the other hand, unfortunately for me some font styling choices work for the worst, rather than conveying an artistic flair or expression of personal aesthetics they are simply impossible to read on the lighter theme which means I will scroll past it.

I do love emojis though, for me they work as the virtual equivalent of voice intonation and gestures.

[Memory]

I think visuals are important even if it just to make something pleasing to the eyes, I don't think they convey any meaning tho, at least not for me personally. I don’t read something with a different meaning only because it's written in purple or using comics sans, for example.

I mean, I think that

I will always follow you

has a different vibe than

I will always follow you

[Necrosia]

I mean, I think that

I will always follow you

has a different vibe than

I will always follow you

I understand but I personally don't write that way or at least don't intend to, to me italic, bold and underline decorations convey more meaning than actual colors and fonts. Maybe this is just like irl social clues, not everyone will get them?

[Memory]

I understand but I personally don't write that way or at least don't intend to, to me italic, bold and underline decorations convey more meaning than actual colors and fonts. Maybe this is just like irl social clues, not everyone will get them?

I mean that's totally fine, not everybody uses colors and fonts and all of these vi

s

ual effects as meaning; but if you use italics, bold and underline, you are already multimodally using style to convey more meaning. That's also what this is about. :3

[Melooon]

My font and colour is actually very specifically chosen to try and soften the force of what I say ^^ Comic sans is definitely not my favourite font, and orange/brown is far from my favourite colour! However those two together, I think gives off a "sturdy, informal, approachable" vibe - Although that might just be me; my school used to use comic sans in all its media, so I associate it with friendly authority? That its quite important for an admin who makes (vaguely) official posts, I want people to take me seriously, but not too seriously Even the exact shade of my posts is slightly different the default in order to make it stand out without standing out.

In the end of the day, the tone of your words will always matter most; but if you can pair your words with an aesthetic style that complements them (or contrasts them?); I think it goes a long way to conveying your message.

[Memory]

My font and colour is actually very specifically chosen to try and soften the force of what I say ^^ Comic sans is definitely not my favourite font, and orange/brown is far from my favourite colour! However those two together, I think gives off a "sturdy, informal, approachable" vibe - Although that might just be me; my school used to use comic sans in all its media, so I associate it with friendly authority? That its quite important for an admin who makes (vaguely) official posts, I want people to take me seriously, but not too seriously Even the exact shade of my posts is slightly different the default in order to make it stand out without standing out.

Actually yeah, it does work for me at least! This is the vibe I have always gotten from your posts, and the font/color combination is definitely a leading cause in that. I also settled for Comic Sans with a default color scheme lately, simply because I feel it takes the edge out of a lot of my posts, it's easily readable and the default color leaves room for using color as emphasis.

[glitterpigeon]

My font and colour is actually very specifically chosen to try and soften the force of what I say ^^ Comic sans is definitely not my favourite font, and orange/brown is far from my favourite colour! However those two together, I think gives off a "sturdy, informal, approachable" vibe - Although that might just be me; my school used to use comic sans in all its media, so I associate it with friendly authority? That its quite important for an admin who makes (vaguely) official posts, I want people to take me seriously, but not too seriously Even the exact shade of my posts is slightly different the default in order to make it stand out without standing out.

In the end of the day, the tone of your words will always matter most; but if you can pair your words with an aesthetic style that complements them (or contrasts them?); I think it goes a long way to conveying your message.

ooh interesting, as comic sans is my favourite font, and I like it because it's kind of impossible to be entirely professional/serious in it! i think everyone is a little bit ridiculous, and everything is a little bit absurd, and it's good to force yourself to reveal that side of yourself at times. if you do it enough, in the right ways, this even allows other people to open up and feel comfortable exploring that side of themselves as well, and I think it's beautiful. it's one of my biggest goals communication wise, I make a point to always be very honest, and to let myself be awkward and ridiculous, because everyone is, even the most serious, important person out there, and I can't judge anyone for being those things, because I'm so clearly embracing it myself.

we live in very absurd times, and as Phil Ochs said, we have to meet absurdity with absurdity. this is where I find a lot of solace in the world, this is part of my way of doing that? (the pigeons are too, I feel like pigeons are very ridiculous creatures, and I want my art to highlight that ridiculousness. I feel a bit like a little pigeon that has to wear clothes and go to work and act serious when my nature couldn't be farther from that, and I want to make other people feel like that too).

I use pink, in a similar way, I feel. on one hand, I just like it, on the other hand, I enjoy taking this colour often seen as sort of frivolous and feminine and just sort of existing in it, doing serious things and important things and meaningless things and silly things all under it, writing anything I can in comic sans to in some way break down the respectability that has always felt so suffocating to me? that something important and worth listening to can't be weird and humorous and feminine and childish loud? that telling the truth has to mean being cruel and brutal rather than kind and optimistic?

who gets to be professional and who doesn't? how does that exclude certain people from different spaces? who is seen as emotional and irrational, and who is allowed to pretend they are entirely logical and rational(because no one is entirely logical and rational)? who is respectable and who isn't? which ways of being are seen as reasonable? which complaints are "taking things too far"? who's suffering is listened to, and who's is expected to be ignored? why can't I say something important and serious while wearing a pink feather boa and fairy wings and an umbrella hat? etc and this is all very grand, I don't know what I'm doing, but I am probably not doing much, but that's sort of the poorly executed idea? in my head, if done right, there is a sort of liberation to ridiculousness, and to pink, and to comic sans. maybe.

using colour to communicate of course also always makes me think of solresol which, though it has flaws, I always wish people played around with more...

[SiLver]

I think color and font choice can be super useful for conveying information or tone, though admittedly I may misinterpret some of it. As for setting default message font and color though, mine I mainly just chose because I felt it was cool looking and didn't have to much thought of meaning behind it. (though now I'm worried its hard to read, let me know if it is)

[watermelon3y3s]

well, personally i think text styles help a lot in adding flavor to what you are writing and making emphasis in specific parts, though i do not do it, i think i will do it from now on !! i love colored text anyways